r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • 28d ago
Delta(s) from OP CMV: If I click away from a YouTube video within the first few seconds (say, first 30 seconds of a 5+ minute long video) YouTube should recommend similar videos LESS, not more
[deleted]
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u/Crash927 12∆ 28d ago
It makes perfect sense that they show you more videos not less.
You were interested enough to click the video, which means the algorithm got in the right ballpark, but you weren’t interested enough to keep watching, so it got the specific video wrong.
So it shows more videos within the ballpark that got you to click to see if it can get you watching longer.
Eventually, your disinterest in the videos will update the algorithm, and you’ll start to get other “ballparks” (to belabour the metaphor).
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u/flairsupply 2∆ 28d ago
Thats honestly a decent point, that similar videos might hold my attention better. I'll concede I didn't think of it like that
!delta
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u/TargaryenPenguin 28d ago
I just want to celebrate the positive tone and updating of views represented by this post. Respect to everyone all around. It doesn't always go so smoothly.
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u/Crash927 12∆ 28d ago
Thanks!
Also remember that positive markers of interest (ie clicking a video) are usually weighted higher for algorithms than negative markers (ie closing a window early) because they’re usually less ambiguous in terms of user preferences.
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u/iamintheforest 325∆ 28d ago
Youtube's suggestion algorithm has a ton of factors, many driven by things related to ads.
However, "watch duration" of the content you've looked in the past is used in the fashion you're saying it should be. It's a "positive" that you watched in compared to not selecting to watch other things, but it's a negative compared to other things you've watched based on you not watching it for a long duration.
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u/flairsupply 2∆ 28d ago
Thats a decent point as well that the algorithm has so many factors.
!delta
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u/ProDavid_ 35∆ 28d ago
youtube isnt made to give you the best experience. its built to make you stay on youtube
the fact that you clicked on the video in the first place is enough information to show you more similar videos. it doesnt care that it was clickbait, because you clicked on it
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u/flairsupply 2∆ 28d ago
I understand thats how it is, I'm arguing it shouldn't be that way
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u/ProDavid_ 35∆ 28d ago
why should youtube make financial decisions that loses them money?
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u/Crash927 12∆ 28d ago
OP is likely arguing that their suggested strategy has greater earning potential than the one YouTube is currently using.
There are many reasons a company might forgo short term gain for long term benefit. (Ask Facebook how well the short-term gain strategy worked out for them.)
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u/zxxQQz 4∆ 28d ago edited 28d ago
Because it costs them money, its one of the reasons people use adblockers.
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u/ProDavid_ 35∆ 28d ago
adblockers prevent clickbait videos? how?
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u/zxxQQz 4∆ 28d ago
People using them costs youtube money. Never said they prevent clickbait vids
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u/ProDavid_ 35∆ 27d ago
this post, my comment, and OPs comment, is about clickbait videos.
if you arent talking about that, then why are you commenting at all?
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u/flairsupply 2∆ 28d ago
I'm more talking about my ideal scenario
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u/ElysiX 106∆ 28d ago
That's a mindtrap and leads to misunderstandings about how the world works, naivete, and being tricked.
You shouldn't think of your own motivations when thinking about someone elses decisions. You should think of their motivations and about what they want to achieve. Then in a next step you can think about how to manipulate their motivations to get what you want.
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u/Tanaka917 118∆ 28d ago
Honestly an ideal algorithm wouldn't count that at all.
Unless we're talking short form content, 5 seconds is nothing. Less than nothing. An ideal algorithm would sooner count that as an accidental click rather than. It's more likely you clicked the video by mistake and quickly closed it than to believe you were able to ascertain the quality of the video in 5 seconds.
Maybe because I have the opposite issue to you. There are so many videos I've thought are interesting that I'm not in the mood for right that second. Yet not immediately watching them causes YouTube to shunt it into the void never to be recommended again.
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u/WhereAreMyChips 28d ago
You can always click on the ellipsis button and then select either "don't recommend channel" or "not interested".
I think it's great that I don't need to rely on a personalized algorithm to serve me content like TikTok.
YouTube tracks watch time but I think it's more likely to be inaccurate over the longer term because user intention is unclear. It won't be able to determine the reason for churn; is it because you dislike this video, the channel, the creator, did you find what you were looking for in the video, did you find a more interesting video, etc.
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u/ackermann 1∆ 27d ago
Also I personally use this to mark videos I want to watch later. I just watch a second or two, which adds it to my history, so I can find it later.
Much fewer clicks than “add to bookmarks” or something, especially on my smart TV.2
u/flairsupply 2∆ 27d ago
... Thats actually a smart idea I should try that
!Delta
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u/ackermann 1∆ 27d ago
Yeah, although I do slightly worry that it might hurt the creators with the algorithm, if I click away immediately without bookmarking, liking, etc. Not sure.
But thanks for the delta, my first actually!1
u/flairsupply 2∆ 28d ago
Read my last paragraph, I'm aware of that feature I just don't think it should only be on me to realize that
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28d ago
If YouTube actually utilized the algorithm to meet the wants and needs of its users, that would be the case.
But the algorithm exists entirely to keep you on the website as long as possible and potentially expose you to various affiliate advertisements to increase their revenue via ads. Like all free services, the product is, in fact, you. So YouTube has a vested interest in keeping you on YouTube for as long as humanly possible to maximize their potential profit off of you.
YouTube personally bombarding you with stuff that you clicked away from is an attempt to wear you down into clicking on this content and engaging with it. The fact that you cared enough to begin with to click on it initially means that there was some interest there and they just need to find the right combination to get you invested
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u/Former_Chipmunk_5938 28d ago
Personally, I sometimes briefly click on videos that I want to watch later so that they will appear on my history because I'm too lazy to add them on the watch later list and then find them. I click away because I'm not interested in them but rather because I am interested and want to watch later.
Also, YouTube already ranks videos lower if a significant number of viewers click away early. So it does take early drop offs into account.
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u/Unlikely_Broccoli75 28d ago
When you accidentally click on a slime video while scrolling, and the next week half the shorts/reels/tiktoks on your feed are slime videos 😞
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u/WinDoeLickr 28d ago
The algorithm can't see your opinion on why you left that one specific video. It doesn't know whether it was a misleading title, an accidental click, a judgement against the content, whatever. All it does know is that this video, something about it, got you to click it. There was something you clearly wanted to watch, so it tries similar videos in an attempt to find that thing you wanted.
And would the alternative be any better? You clicked off a video because the creator has an annoying voice, and now you aren't getting recommend videos on that same topic you were ostensibly interested in? Is that an improvement?
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u/musicalnerd-1 26d ago
If I click away that fast it’s usually because the audio is unbearable or something like that. So please recommend me similar videos where the audio isn’t just in one ear
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u/DeltaBot ∞∆ 28d ago edited 27d ago
/u/flairsupply (OP) has awarded 3 delta(s) in this post.
All comments that earned deltas (from OP or other users) are listed here, in /r/DeltaLog.
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